MG Book Review: Small Medium at Large by Joanne Jevy

Hardcover
208 pages
Published: July 2012
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Author: Joanne Levy

After she’s hit by lightning at a wedding, twelve-year-old Lilah Bloom develops a new talent: she can hear dead people. Among them, there’s her overopinionated Bubby Dora; a prissy fashion designer; and an approval-seeking clown who livens up a séance. With Bubby Dora leading the way, these and other sweetly imperfect ghosts haunt Lilah through seventh grade, and help her face her one big fear: talking to—and possibly going to the seventh-grade dance with—her crush, Andrew Finkel.








This book is absolutely adorable. I have no idea why it's not being read more often, and I plan to recommend it to all of my friends who have middle graders.

SMaL is a sweet, hilarious book about a girl that can hear dead people. It deals with some pretty big issues, like divorce and the loss of a parent/grandparent, but it stays true to the age group it's written for. Ms. Levy handles the subjects wonderfully and truthfully.

Speaking of Ms. Levy, I've had the pleasure of meeting her in person a few times, and, if I'm remembering correctly, she'd mentioned to me that this she'd actually wanted to write this book geared toward a YA audience. (Please correct--and forgive me!--if I'm wrong, Joanne!)
I, for one, am glad that it was changed from YA to MG. There are not enough brilliant MG books written these days.
SMaL is now one of them!

My youngest daughter just turned 6, and I plan to hand this book to her as soon as I feel she's the right age for it. This is definitely going to be one of her first chapter books. That's how much I adored Small Medium at Large. (And can I just say how freaking great the title is?!)

Thank you, Joanne, for writing such a brilliantly wonderful book! I'm sorry it took me so long to get around to reading it!

YA Book Review: If I Stay by Gayle Forman

Paperback
201 pages
Published: April, 2009
Publisher: Dutton
Author: Gayle Forman


Choices. Seventeen-year-old Mia is faced with some tough ones: Stay true to her first love—music—even if it means losing her boyfriend and leaving her family and friends behind?

Then one February morning Mia goes for a drive with her family, and in an instant, everything changes. Suddenly, all the choices are gone, except one. And it's the only one that matters.





I didn't think I'd like this book. I figured it was just another tug-at-the-heartstrings YA romance.
 I only read it to see what all the fuss was about. Y'see, they're making a movie based on this book, and the trailer was released recently. It caught my attention, so I decided to check out the book. 

After DNFing (that's 'did not finish' for you non-bookies) so many books lately, and reading so many mediocre books lately, this one was more than welcome, and such a wonderful surprise. It hooked me right from the beginning, and I read it in one sitting. It was just so, so beautiful. 

I loved the characters, and the small romance was sweet and natural. Mia is just really wonderful. You feel for her, and you just want to make everything all better. 

This is a little book with a big message, and I'm truly happy that I read it. It'll rip your heart right out, so HAVE TISSUES CLOSE.

I'm looking forward to reading book two...but I'm going to give myself a few days to heal my heart first.

Oh, and here's the trailer for the movie. I'm definitely going to see this one....but I might wait until it comes out on DVD. Sobbing in a crowded theater is really embarrassing. ;)

The Best Giveaway EVER!

I could not be more excited to be writing this post! I have a new look on my blog, it's almost Easter, and to celebrate both, I'm hosting a HUGE giveaway!

A few weeks ago, a really great rep from costumesupercenter.com contacted me about doing a giveaway for one of their costumes. Being a cosplayer, and knowing about a billion people in the cosplay world, this was a no brainer! I said yes immediately, and a giveaway was born!

First, I'm going to tell you a bit about costumesupercenter.com. They have a HUGE selection of really amazing costumes, wigs, props, makeup, and party supplies for really reasonable prices, and they ship to both the US and Canada.
Beyond that, they also have some really cool tutorials! Two of my faves are the Star Trek Uniform Guides, and the Princess Leia Hair How-To. I highly recommend that you check both out!

And now, without further adieu, here are the giveaway details and, of course, the fine print!

This giveaway is for ONE (1) costume of any size or style from costumesupercenter.com, with a value of $50 or less! ISN'T THAT AMAZING?!
This contest runs for ONE WEEK,  from Friday, April 18, 2014 at 12:00am until Friday, April 25 at 11:59pm.
Contest open to Canada and the US only.
Costume must be in stock and available at costumesupercenter.com.
Costume must be worth $50 (fifty) or less.
ONE costume can be chosen, in any size available and in stock, worth up to $50.
CostumeSuperCenter will pay the shipping within Canada and the US.
Just A Girl Geek! is not responsible for shipping, shipping errors, address errors, postal losses or damages.
Winner has 72 hours to respond with their mailing address, costume selection and costume size. If the winner fails to respond within that time, another winner will be chosen.

Good luck, everyone! I can't wait to see which costume the winner chooses!

  a Rafflecopter giveaway